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Margaret Thatcher Dies at 87 (reaction)

I’ve just recently been alerted to the news that Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of the UK from 1979 – 1990, has died.

Now, from what I have heard and read about her time in power, I believe her to have left a truly terrible legacy for Britain, in terms of what she did to the country’s industry and the damage its very social fabric, as well as her dubious international record (the sinking of the Belgrano and her support of Apartheid spring to mind). Others – many others – will disagree, and likewise, I’m sure, a lot of people will agree. Thatcher, even now, proves to be a controversial figure.

However, I don’t see myself either mourning or celebrating her death. Despite my opinions on her political record, I think it would be utterly wrong to celebrate the death of another human being. While now might be the time to have a political debate on the legacy she has left, I personally feel inclined to look back how exceptional a Prime Minister she was – for better or for worse. Firstly, she was the UK’s first – and, to date, only – female Prime Minister. Her 11 years in power have been the longest uninterrupted premiership since Robert Jenkinson left office in 1827. Even considering Prime Ministers who were in power more than once, she is still has the 7th longest time in office of every Prime Minister in British history, as well as the longest tenure in the 20th century.

The Iron Lady may be gone, but she has earned herself a very secure place in the history of our country.

2 thoughts on “Margaret Thatcher Dies at 87 (reaction)”

I used to dream of this day, now as I see the accolades and the global re writing of history I just feel a little sick. 25 years ago there would have been jubilations throughout Europe perhaps never seen since the end of the second world war. I genuinely believe her to have been an evil person psychotic in many ways hell bent on regan nomic so called free enterprise that encourages the greed which has brought about the current recession, she championed the rich and crushed the poor. I just feel despair that she is being championed in such a mass media frenzie of propagandist despotic fascism. Topics to discuss: Pinnocio, Miners, Free Speech, Capitalism and Social Justice, Poll tax riots, Political War mongering (taken on by Blair). The promotion of the idea that Greed is a virtue. The general riots of 1981 (not directly related to the poll tax). The denigration of the woman’s movement. The promotion of the police state (Taking money from the poor and giving it to the police for the expected reaction). The brutalising of the police. Her son and his arms dealings. A little known fact is that she became so fearful of free speech she banned the snug from pubs – “all areas of a public house shall be seen from the bar”. The undisclosed meeting of more than 5 people she tried to make illegal. The fact that about 15% of Brits voted for her the other 85% hated the ground she walked on. Yet still the accolades come pouring in from our current esteemed leaders, and social propagandists. In short had her death been 25 or 30 years ago Britain, Europe, and perhaps the world would have been a better safer cleaner place, as it is I feel nothing, its too late her deeds have long been done. The reactions though to my mind define the reactor (Ok me too).

I think most people in this country will like me feel somewhat schizophrenic about Lady Thatcher’s death.
But one thing that always enrages me is when people don’t know the facts about the Falkland’s conflict, and even call the UK “murderers. Argentina were the aggressors, and therefore had to be removed.
As for the General Belgrano, the Ministry Of Defence made a mistake and said it was moving towards the UK’s task force, when in fact it was heading away at no high speed. This was the fact that Mrs Thatcher had endless bother with after the conflict. But the Belgrano was “hovering” around the “exclusion zone”, and it wasn’t exactly an MOD priority to put on record every movement of every ship at the time.
It would just have taken a minute for the Belgrano to turn around and head for the UK task force at high speed. There was also an Argentinian fleet (including an aircraft carrier) moving down from the north. A classic pincer ambush was a distinct possibility. So since the Belgrano was the only Argentinian warship that a Royal Navy submarine was in “contact” with, the difficult decision was made to sink her or the UK task force could well have been in severe danger.
Then one would think the Argentinian navy was just out for a cruise. None of watertight doors had been locked shut for example (standard Royal Navy procedure), so when the torpedoes hit the Belgrano she sank like a stone, contributing to the appalling amount of casualties. After HMS Conqueror (the submarine) had got away to a safe distance (which didn’t take long, it could do 30 knots), the UK task force sent in plain language the last position of the Belgrano to the Argentinians. But the two escorting destroyers were too busy chasing a long gone submarine to go to the rescue of the crew of the Belgrano. So this added to the high amount of casualties as there were life-rafts floating about for days before being rescued, despite the UK having made clear they would not interfere with any rescue operation.
Strategically the sinking of the Belgrano was vital, as no Argentinian warship ever left harbour again during the conflict.